Brazil recorded a new record in cotton exports in March 2026, driven mainly by increased demand from China. While shipments accelerate, the domestic market remains characterised by sporadic negotiations and volatile prices — a scenario that demands greater strategic planning from producers to preserve margins.

According to data from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade, the country exported 347,800 tonnes of cotton in March, representing an increase of 28.6% compared to February 2026 and a rise of 45.4% compared to March 2025.

This volume corresponds to the highest figure ever recorded for the month of March and the highest monthly level since December of last year.

Over the last 12 months, Brazil has exported a total of 3.032 million tonnes, surpassing the entire volume recorded in 2025.

According to researchers at the Centre for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics at the University of São Paulo (CEPEA), the recovery in Chinese demand is the main driver of this performance. External demand, particularly from China, has played a decisive role in maintaining Brazilian shipments at high levels.

(Source: Agrolink, on 15 April)